The western U.S. state of Colorado is coping with its second major snowstorm in two weeks, with parts of the state under a blizzard warning.

Hundreds of flights from Denver International Airport were canceled Friday as heavy snow and high winds made traveling difficult by any means. Parts of Interstate 70, the main east-to-west route across the state, were closed today, and officials reported a high number of road accidents on other routes. The storm has piled as much as 60 centimeters of snow on Denver and even more in the mountains to the west.

Colorado governor Bill Owens has declared a disaster emergency and put the National Guard on standby. Denver mayor John Hickenlooper told the Denver Post newspaper this storm could be even more fierce than last week's storm, which forced closure of the airport for three days.

Airport officials have stocked up on emergency supplies such as cots and blankets.

New Year's travelers jammed the Denver airport Thursday, trying to leave before the storm arrived.

The U.S. National Weather Service says anyone planning to travel across northern and north-central Colorado in the coming days should be prepared for hazardous driving conditions.